GtE project will make Reg 3 Guyana’s industrial capital – Pres Ali

…says agriculture will thrive alongside industry

Branding the Gas to Energy (GtE) project as one that will help transform Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) into Guyana’s industrial capital, President Irfaan Ali also urged the private sector in the region to work with the government to ensure orderly and sustained economic and industrial development.

The Head of State was at the time addressing a Region Three Chamber of Commerce and Industry (R3CCI) Business Networking Event. He noted that once the GtE project comes online, cheaper and more reliable energy will usher in an industrial revolution.
“When the gas-to-energy project reaches completion, this region is poised to become the industrial capital of Guyana. Access to cheaper and more reliable energy will unlock a new wave of manufacturing, agro-processing and heavy industry, placing this region at the heart of Guyana’s energy-led transformation.”
“The region is already being transformed before our eyes. It is a critical hub for the movement of people, produce and services. Not only within its own boundaries but across the Essequibo coast. From its vibrant marketplaces to its potential for ecotourism tucked within its rivers, forests and communities, Region Three is poised for greatness,” President Ali said.

Industry and agriculture
According to President Ali, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government’s vision for the region is a bold one. It is a vision that, while embracing new industrial development, will also not abandon the region’s agricultural roots.
“Our vision must be bold and unwavering: to make Region Three the most economically diversified and modernised region in Guyana, where agriculture thrives alongside industry, where culture meets commerce and where opportunities are as abundant as the land itself. This is the region where logistics flow smoothly, businesses flourish and communities grow stronger together.”
However, he warned that the private sector in region three must work with the government, ensuring synergy with traffic management and zoning regulations. According to him, a structured and collaborative approach will unlock Region Three’s full potential, ensuring progress is not only orderly but also benefits all.
“I urge the Essequibo Islands/West Demerara Chamber of Commerce to work closely with me in transforming this whole vision for region three into a practical, results-driven development plan. It is essential that the region’s growth be placed on an organised footing, guided by clear planning principles and zoning regulations,” he explained.
“We cannot continue with the current ad hoc approach, where activities spring up indiscriminately, leading to congestion, inefficiencies and disruption. We must work together to designate specific areas for recreation and entertainment, commercial activities and industrial development, ensuring these do not encroach on or disrupt residential communities.”

Roads
President Ali also discussed plans for road infrastructure, which will connect not only region three but other regions. For instance, the Ministry of Public Works has already invested nearly $10 billion in Region Two, including the rehabilitation of Lima Sands Main Road (Phases 1–4) and Lake Mainstay Access Roads.
Upcoming projects include Phase 5 of Lima Sands Road, closing for tender in June, and further works on Mainstay’s bridges and roadways, amounting to hundreds of millions more.

Plans are also underway to widen the Essequibo highway into a four-lane road and extend hinterland connectivity through trail development and road links from Parika to Sandhill. When it comes to the Sand Hill Road, President Ali noted that this road will connect Regions three, four and the hinterland.
“We’ll be working on the interconnectivity of the region with other regions around the country. We’re not only looking at the Del Conte Road but also the Sandhills Road that will be connecting Region Three with Region Four and also leading the investment into our interior locations.”
“These are the transformative projects that will create a new wave of expansive opportunities. Fertiliser plant. The Gas to Shore projects. All of these are exciting opportunities that lie ahead of us,” President Ali also said.